I am posting this in request for prayers for my parents. My father has been receiving dialysis for over a year now and has moved into the moderate stage of Alzheimer's. Over the last month it has been very difficult for him to get to the clinic for dialysis and even with the treatments he was always in pain and uncomfortable. My mother and my sisters and I have decided to stop the dialysis and hospice is coming in to help ease his pain.

Daddy was a B-17 pilot in WWII and received several medals including a Purple Heart. He was a Co-Pilot in the Aphrodite mission, the same experimental program that took the life of Joe Kennedy. In his later years he reconnected with the members of his crew of the 'Sittin' Pretty' and enjoyed participating in the 8th Air Force Historical Society. After service and graduating from the University of Alabama (Roll Tide!) he met and married my mother. In the late 70's he retired from the FAA where he was an Air Traffic Controller and he and my mother moved to the Gulf Coast of Alabama.

Stopping the dialysis treatment is like removing any form of life support, not an easy decision for anyone, especially my mother who has been his primary caregiver, yet it is the only right decision to be made. He has no quality of life and hospice can offer him comfort in his final days (at least that what we are praying for).

I thank God for every second of my 43 years with Daddy. He's a man of dignity and character no matter how hard the Alzheimer's tries to strip that away and I ask that my fellow FReepers would lift him in prayer in these, his final days.

God Bless your family. I am so sorry to hear of your loss, and glad he and your mom could be together until the end. Keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. I am thankful for your dad's service to our country. Sincerely, M0sby

I lost my Father on the 18th of March. He was a WWII Veteran who served on the battleship U.S.S. Mississippi which fought in several engagements with the Japanese, twice being hit by kamikazes. He was my hero, my best friend, my Dad. May I suggest reading Tom Brokaws book The Greatest Generation. These men and woman who are leaving us by the thousands each day truly are the greatest.

I just wanted to thank you once again for posting High Flight. My mother requested that my Husband read it at Daddys memorial service. It was read at my Daddy's twin brothers funeral, so it wasn't even optional that it be read. My Husband wasn't sure he couldn't make it thru, yet he wanted to do it for my mother.

He made it thru and it was beautiful. My cousin (Daddys twin brothers daughter) has been following this thread and she too was very moved by your posting of the poem.

thank you so much

58
posted on 04/06/2004 6:26:00 AM PDT
by sweet_diane
("Will I dance for you Jesus? Or in awe of You be still? I can only imagine..I can only imagine.")

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